In the first six months of the year, around 8 million hectoliters of beer were sold, with June as the best month, with an almost 4% advance. On the other hand, the weakest results in the industry were registered in January, March and April.
In the first quarter of 2011, the Association of Brewers in Romania representatives said it was extremely difficult to make an estimate about the 2011 market trend, since the second half of the year was decisive.
Nevertheless, it can be considered that the summer started well for brewers, but the industry could still get a cold shower in July and August.
Among the companies that have so far published figures, Ursus Breweries, the largest player, saw sales drop by 3% in volume in April-June 2011 compared to the same interval in 2010. Heineken has recently announced its first half beer sales posted a one-digit increase and that it gained market share. United Romanian Breweries Bereprod (URBB), the producer of Tuborg and Carlsberg, registered higher sales, above initial estimates, but did not specify the pace.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu; Editing by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)